Partition strip assembling machine



Feb, 14, 1950 Filed June 7, 1944 J. E. MLAUGHLIN ETAL 2,497,318

PARTITION STRIP ASSEMBLING MACHINE 3 Shets-Sheet l Feb. 14, 1950 J. E. MOLAUGHLIN ET AL 2, 7,3

PARTITION STRIP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jun 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m aw.

Gamma 1 Feb. 14, 1950 J. MGLAUGYHLIN r 2,497,318

PARTITION STRIP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet 3 20 I fig, 6. 3 m

Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATE PARTITION STRIP ASSEMBLING MACHINE John E. McLaughlin, Julius E. Wilske,- and Francis A. McCormick, Alton, 111., assignors to Owens-z Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application June 7, 1944, Serial No. 539,066 h 21 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to machines for assembling strips of cardboard, paper or the like to form'partitions such as are commonly used for providing individual cells or compartments in cartons and other containers. The invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a machine of the type disclosed in our Patent No. 2,353,842 granted July 18, 1944, for Machines for assembling partitions;

An object of the present invention is to provide asimplified and improved'mechanism for controlling the operations of the partition strip assembling motor.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view, with parts shown in section, of the air system including the airoperated piston motor for assembling the partition strips and the valve mechanism controlling the operations of the motor.

Figs. 3 and 4 are part-sectional diagrammatic views of the trip valve mechanism shown in Fig. 2 but with the parts in different relative positions.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary part-sectional plan view showing strip guiding means and the trip valve mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a part-sectional side el shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the trip valve mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a section at the line 8-8 on Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1,' the operating parts, which are mounted on a framework l0, include an elec tric motor I l which operates'contlnuously through speed reduction gearing including belts l 2 and I3 to drive an endless belt conveyor M; The conveyor carries longitudinal partition strips l5 forwardly, in a horizontal direction to and through an assembly zone in which they are assembled with cross partition strips l6. Cross bars l1 are attached to the conveyor 14 at intervals therealong for engaging the strips l5 andholding them properly spaced lengthwise on the conveyor. stationary guide bars [8 extending lengthwise of the conveyor, serve to support the strips IS in upright position and suitably spaced laterally. The strips l5 are provided with vertical slots 20 to receive the cross partition strips IS, the lower ends 2| of the slots serving as stops for the cross eva tion of parts partitions which are likewise provided with corre- "Ifhe stack-of'cross strips I6 is supported on an inclined frame member'22 and fed forwardby a pusher bar 23 which'is'slidably mounted on the frame member 22. A weight 24 is connected strips by a piston motor 26." The parts thus far described are the same as illustrated and described 1' in the patent above mentioned to which reference may be had fora more complete disclosure of the general constructionand operation of the machine.

Referring now to Fig.2

33 movable lengthwise in the valve casing 34. h The pressure line-3|-is"-connected"to the valve at a central port 35. Pipes'36 and 31 extend from the valve 32 to the upper and. lower ends respectively, of the motor cylinder. The valve'stem 33 is oper i ated by pufis of air which are supplied alternately through the opposite ends of the valve cylinder.- A multiple valve unit 38, herein referred to as 9.3;theltrip valveyis' actuated by thepartition strips as hereinafter described, and controls the supother direction by airund valve casing 40. ."A pressure" pipe 4! connected'to the pipe-3| ata junction42, (Fig. 2) extends'td' theleft-hand'end of' the valve casing-'40. The

' pressureline'is extended through the valve casing;

in one direction bycoil compi'ession springs and in the opposite direction by the longitudinal strips l5 operatingrthrough' pivoted dogs la, 2%

and 3 respectively.

tance somewhat greater than the thickness' of thestrips Ii-permitting free forward movement of the strips. The space is narrowed downat the fplwardjend ofthebars- 1.8 by a spacing block'45 the pistonfmotdr 26 operated by air under pressure brother fiuid. The air control syst'em'includes a main airsupply pipe 2! which supplies air under pressure through a valve 28 and filter 29 to an air pressuretank 30." A pressure line 3| extends from the tank to a master control valve 32 which controls theo'peray tion of the motor 26. This valve includes astem valve132. 'Th'e-valve stems l',"2; and 3 are moved J The guide bal's" l B"(Figf5) are arranged in pairs, the bars of -each"pair being spaced apart a 'd'is- 3 attached by screws 46 to a plate 41 which is in turn secured to one of the guide bars E8. The block'45has an inclined surface 49 to guide the strips i5 into position between the spacing block and the opposite guide bar l8.

The trip valve 38 is adjustably mounted at the forward end of one of the guide bars I8, directly opposite .the.-.,guide.-..block. 45 onatheaothernguidei. bar of thezepe iri Then-valve is adjustable length-e.- wise of the guide bars, being connected by a pivot pin 50 to a slide plate 5| mounted for lengthwise. movement in guideways provided. .byav guide. frame 53 attached to the guide bar l8. The valve is adjusted by means ofimntadjnstingzscrevv rod 54 threaded through a-11i 55 onzthenslide plate 5|, the screw rod being journalledinthe frame 53 and provided with aneadjustingiknob 56. The valve casing 40 is yieldingly held in operative position by means of a coil compression spring 51 mounted on a rod 58, one end of which is connected rby a i-pivot flwto, ethe; .yalve casing" andincthenend oi which .is'fslidable in the. lug 55.

Asshown in Figs;.:-=6,-7,:and 8;:theyalve-stem2 and'wthepdog l operated thereby-gale :mounted ataa leveleaboveethepathzotthelower: ends 2! of; theK-sIQts-Z D and the 'dog;; 2%-.is formed/with a nose. Gfl-adaptedto be -projectedzinto each-.of the slots; 20min; succession-1. as the istrip-gi 5 advances; The: va1ve-stems-..l and; 3 are:"locatedbelow the path Offf the-.slots: 202

that as theeivalve chambersrzareraall connected -in:.

series in the pressure line, all of the valvestems: on PiStOHSQmHStTbG EiII1013811 DOSitiOIl'-?it0i iad-mit pressure wtOl'the.-maSteriVa1VB.Ii. Thislopen position: 35.: isshown z iniFig. 2 .in:'wh'ichatheczdogzgi is: in "its? projected .position .Whfl dogs iw and.:3 are held: in their retracted position by the :partition- -strip'= l5, thereby holdings-.tha:evalve stemstzl and '3 in. their. open: position.:. The middle:*valvesiszopen: i when the. -stem; 2 rise-projected, gthis -';being.:per.-:: mitted whemthe-nose-fib t-ofiathesrdogi entersv a slot:-'20.-.. In Figr3 .thezpartitiomstrip rl 5i iiszshown" advanced to r a --.position;.-in:twhich all .ofi therdogs; arerretracted so.-that=tharpressure'dine :is;.:closed= by--.the evalve stem-le- Figrl showsctheiya'lves in:- th'eire projected .position assumed: when there is; noapartitionvstrip -l 5 'oppqsite anwof the dogs so thatthestem-sr-l and:3 areinzclosed-position:

The. Operation: of ltheepartitioneassembling 1 mechanism will-rnow be' described; having-t-reference particularlyztoxFig: 2.2. Wmnthe parts in: therpqsition'mere shown ;thelstem 33 'o'f-zthe master valve -3 2 has-njust been imoved-to'theiright' so that air pressure is being admitted from -the tankiiil '65 through'pressurer lines=3 l3: the qnaster*valve;-'and pipe t fiwtouthe. upper end -?Of:**the:-m0tOr l "cylinder; The motorzpistonefi h and piston :rod- 62" are tli-ereforexmoyed-downwarm 'zthuseimparting a downward stroke to the partitiont'assembling plate 63 The dog isathensswung dnward-to the Figure 3 7 W position:"therebyclosingathewalve.2 and cutting ofi' 'tl're'rpressure. -toithe "master; valve; and permittingrthe pressue atthenertmand endfof the valvc*stem to:bedissipated-through the vent 54a AsE -tlie:;.-pusher:p1ate 63 nears'its' lowered-position,- 75" 4 a cam carried thereby, momentarily opens the poppet valve 39. This admits pressure from the tank 30 through the line 3|, junction 42, pipe line 65. poppet valve 39 and line 61 to the right-hand ml or" the master valve 32, so that the valve stem is moved to the left, thus reversing the connections for the piston motor so that the piston movesupvvardand lifts theepusheiz pl te. As the forward movement of the: partition :strips brings the slots 25 in succession to a position in register with the dog 2 the operation is repeated for each -slot.-.In...this..manner, the required number of cross strips lt'are assembled with a group of thelongitudinal;strips. The pressure line then .remainssclosed"through the trip valve unit until the next group 'of -strips I5 is brought to the assembly position...

After the assembling operations for a group of the:-st1 ips.-is completed, the strip l5 which controls the trip valves during such operations, passesbeyoncl -yalve E1 sosthatthe .iattenisimoved tosclosed :position: (Fig. 4) i and rthe'lpressure "line is. held-.closed-i-i Whemtherstriprl 5 passes: beyondr the dog iie; thewa-lve*3 also. iclo'sed lthusxhold-f Modifications :imay; berresorted-eto within the spirit. and scope pf: oun. inventio'nn We claim: 1. .Apparatusrs forr;assembling rpartition str-ips,

comprising means for feeding strips to aneas sembly station. meansvforrguiding: a said-stripin a predetermined pathiduring its movement-to. the assembly. statiom. an air-eoperated emotor; means actuated.- by-;said;moton for assembling said strips with othen strips.--at ...saidstation;-a -master control: valve eontrollingr the operations? of fsaid motor, trip valve mechanismwrincludingxa pluralitypf .tr-ip-rvalves,ianrainpressure line extendingato. said-.mastenacontrol a-l-va said trip: valves having .valye2echamberssfconneotediz in:r:series in i saidapressure line-,1:and:dogsjndividuahlto :said

trip waives and z-mou-nted. in- .PQSilJiOIIFtOT. actuate r said trip valves, said dogs extendingarinto'said path.impositionntorbe actuated-inter predetermined order by the said partition .strip'a;

2..Apparatusfor iassemblingxi jpartition rstrips,

comprising means for feeding strips .;to:.:an::as--

sembly: station, .means; 'forsguidinga :said; strip in a predetermined path during, its: movement to the assembly station, an:- aireoperatedsmotor, means actuatedbysaidz-motorzforassembling. said strips: with. other .strips atsaid; station; aqnaster: con-t trole-valve controlling thea op'erati'onsc of r said motor; an ;air pressure 'xlinejs extending to "the master =-'contro1 :zvalve,7 trip .valveemechanism including-:a plurality'of tripvalveswinssaid line and positionedaadja'cent .to: thee path of a said:'parti-' tioneistrip;rdo'gsc'individual tosaid trip valves and in :position" to operate the valves; and-each posi tionedrtcr project into -said predetermined path of' a zsaidipartitio'n strip" and to be actuated thereby.

3. ?Apparatus for assemblingpar-titio'n strips comprising-1' means zfo'r "supporting-a group" of" longitudinal strips on --ecl-g'e;-" said-"strips-' having vertical slots at: intervals therealong extending frcm'one edge to-anintermediateposition; means for supporting a group of crossstrips, means-"for advancing the longitudinal strips to an "assembly station, means for guiding a said-longitudinal strip 'in a predete'rmined: *path as "it "advances,

means for assembling the cross strips singly and in succession with the group of longitudinal strips, said assembling means comprising an airoperated motor, a master control valve controlling the operations of said motor, trip valve mechanism controlling the master control valve, said trip valve mechanism including trip valves positioned adjacent to the said predetermined path, dogs individualto said valves and interposed be' tween the valves and said path and projecting into said path in position to be operated by said strip, one of said dogs having a nose-in the path of said slots, permitting the release of the dog from the control of said strip.

4.- Apparatus for assembling partition strips comprising means for supporting a, group of longitudinal strips on edge, said strips having vertical slots at intervals therealong extending from one edge to an intermediate position, means for supporting a group of cross strips, means for advancing the longitudinal strips to an assembly station, means for assembling the cross strips singly and in succession with the group of longi tudinal strips, said assembling means comprising an air-operated motor, a master control valve controlling the operations of said motor, an air pressure line extending to said master valve, trip valve mechanism including valves line positioned adjacent to and one in advance of another along the path of a said longitudinal strip, springs for moving said valves toward the strip, and dogs individual to said valves and interposed between said valves and the path of said longitudinal strip and arranged to be actuated in succession by the strip and thereby move the valves in opposition to said springs.

' 5. Apparatus for assembling partition strips comprising means for supporting ,a group of longitudinal strips on edge, said strips having vertical slots at intervals therealong extending from one edge to an intermediate position, means for supporting a group of cross strips, means for advancing the longitudinal strips to an assembly station, means for assembling the cross strips singly and in succession with the group of longi tudinal strips, said assembling means comprising an air-operated motor, a master control valve controlling the operations of said motor, an air pressure line extending to said master valve, trip valve mechanism including valves in said pressure line positioned adjacent to and one in advance of another along the path of a said longitudinal strip, springs for moving said valves toward the strip, and dogs individual to said valves and interposed between saidvalves and the path of said longitudinal strip and arranged to be actuated in succession by the strip andthereby move the valves in opposition to said springs, one saidvalve being movable to closed position by its said dog and another said valve being movable to open position by its said'dog. 6. Apparatus for assembling partition strips comprising means for supporting a group of longitudinal strips on edge, said strips having vertical slots at intervals therealong extending from one edge to an intermediate position, means for supporting a group of cross strips, means for advancing the longitudinal strips to an assembly station, means for assembling the crossstrips singly and in succession with the group of longi'-' tudinal strips, said assembling means comprising an air-operated motor; a master control'valve controlling the operations of said motor, air pressure lines extending to the master valve, the latter being reversible by air pressure supplied in said pressure alternately. through said lines, nism comprising trip valves, valve chambers for the trip valves connected in series in one said air pressure line, dogs individual to the trip valvesand interposed between said trip valves and the path of said partition strip and extending into said path, the dogs being arranged to be operated singly and in succession by said strip and to 0pcrate said trip valves and cause an operation of the motor piston in one direction, a valve inthe trip valves positioned adjacent the path of said strip and movable toward and from said strip,

dogs individual to said valves and interposed be;

tween the valves and a strip moving in said path,

each said dog being positioned and arranged to be operated in one direction by its valve and in thereverse direction by said strip, and means controlled by said valves for controlling the operation of said motor.

8. Apparatus for assembling partition strips,

comprising an air-operated motor, means for advancing partition strips to an assembly sta tion, each strip having slots at intervals therealong', means operated by said motor for assern-' bling strips at said station, trip valve mechanism controlling the operation of said motor, said valve" mechanism including a trip valve positioned adjacent to the path of a said strip, spring means for moving the valve toward a strip in said path,

a dog interposed between the valve and said strip and held by said strip in position to retract the valve, said dog having a nose in the path of the strip in position to enter said slots in succession as the strip advances and thereby cause the said valve to be reciprocated by the dog and said spring.

9. Apparatus for assembling partition strips, comprising an air-operated motor, means "for advancing partition strips to an assembly sta-' tron, each strip having slots at intervals there-f along, means operated by said motor for assembling strips at said station, means including trip valve mechanism controlling the operation of said motor, said trip valve mechanism comprismg trip valves positioned adjacent to the path of said strip with the valves one in advance of the other, springs for moving the valves toward a strip in said path, dogs interposed, between the valves and said strip in position to be operated by the strip and thereby move said valves away from said strip, one said dog having a projection engaging the said strip andadapted to enter the said slots in said strip in succession as the latter advances."

10, Apparatus for assembling partition strips, comprising an air-operated motor, means for advancing partition strips to an assembly sta' tion, each strip having slots at intervals therealong, means operated by said motor for assembling strips at said station, a master valve controlling the operation of said motor, an air pressure line extending to said master valve, trip valvemechanism including trip valve chambers trip, valve mecha-- ani'intermediate valve; "springs forrmoving said valves toward the path of said strip, said end valves being 'movable to" CIOSEd 'TDOSitlOI'I abyfithe springs said intermediate valve 'being movable to" open. positiorr'by its spring; dogs individual to said valvestand interposedfzbetween'the path ofthe strip and the valves and operable by the strip as it advances to 'moveithe valves. in opposition to the spri-ngsthedog individual to said intermediate valve beingshaped'to be released by the sl'otsrinrsam strip and thereby permit the intermediate'ivalve to be opened intermittently as the stripaadvances.

a '11. The combination of means for advancing aistrip in a predetermined :path;:means providing ane air pressure line, trip' valve "mechanism ineluding-1 a plurality of trip valves arranged in series-in-said line and each mounted for movementinto-wand: out-of-position for closing said linegthe valves being positioned adjacent'to said path, dogs-individualto said valves and positionedtooperate the'valves, each-dog being in position to -project'into thepath ofnsaid' strip andtobe actuated thereby.

.-12. The-combination of' a-valve actuating e1ement, means-for moving said element in a predetermined path, an air pressure line, trip. valve mechanism -including"valves "in said "line and positioned adjacent to said path, springs'formovingtthe valves toward said path, and dogs interposed between 'said valves and said path and positionedand arranged to be actuated singly and in'succession by a single movement'ofsaid element and thereby move the valves-win "opposition tosaid springs.

as. The combination of a valve actuating element, means for moving said element in a predeterminedpath; an air pressure line,- trip valve mechanism including valves ;-.-insaid line and positioned adjacent to said path, springs for moving \the valves "toward said path; and dogs interposedbetween said valves andsaid path and positioned .and arranged toube actuated" singly and in succession by a single movement ofs'aid elementnandethereby move the valves-in opposition to said springs,--.one-said valve being movable .to closed position. by its sa-id: dog'and another said valve. being movable to open position byv its saiddog.v

,.14..In. an. apparatus for assembling slotted partition strips, the combination of-imea-ns for moving thesaid. strips in a predetermined path, valve meohahism...including atrip valve' positioned adjacent .tosaid path, spring-means-for movingthe valve toward-said path; a dog having a stationary mounting and interposed between the valve and asaidstripin-saidpath and held bywsaid stripin position to aretract the valve, said .doghaving a nose in the-path of the strip in position to engageslots in the strip in succession as the-strip advances anditherebycause the valve to be reciprocated by the dog and said spring means.

15. In. an apparatus fonassembling partition strips-,pne said strip having-slots. atintervals therealong, means for. advancing the "strip in a predetermined path, trip valve mechanism comprising trip valves positioned adjacent :to the saidpathwith the valves. one in advance of another, springs for moving the valves toward the-strip in said path, dogs. interposed between the valves and said strip in position to be operated by the strip and thereby move said valves awavfromsaid strip, one dog-having a projection engaging the. saidistrip and adapted ;to enter thessaldaslotsrinxsuccession asthe strip advances. f':16..In.:.an apparatus for assembling partition StripsLinQluding-a strip formedwith i-slotszand trip valves including end valves and an intermediate valve, springs for moving said valves toward the said path,-said end'valves being m0vable to closed-position by the springs, said intermediate valve beingmovable to openposition by its spring, dogs individual to said valves and interposed between said path and the valvesand operable by the said slotted strip as it advances alongsaid path to move the valves in opposition tothe springsithe '"dog individual to said intermediatevalve-being shapedto be released by the said slots and thereby permit'the intermediate valveito be opened intermittently as the stripadvances.

17;.A valve assembly including a "valve casing provided with a plurality of valve chambers one in advance of another, anair line extending througlrsaid' valve casing with said chambers arranged in'series therein, valves individual to said chambers and mounted for lengthwi-se movement in said chambers to iandfrom closed positions springsindividual to the valves, one said spring being arranged-to normally hold its valve closed-and another said spring being arranged to hold its valve open,..dogs individual to said valves, and automatic means for actuatingthe dogs in succession.

.18; .A valve assembly including a'valve casing provided with a.-;plurality of valve ohambersone in advance of another, an air line extending through said valvecasing with said chambers arranged in series therein, valves individualto said chambers-andmounted for lengthwise movementinsaid chambers to -andirom closed posi tions, springsindividual to the valves, including a springer-ranged to normally hold-its valve closed andanotherspringlarranged to normally hold its valve-open, dogs individual to-said-valves, a

dog actuating element, automatic meansrfor. ad vancingsaid actuating element'in a-predetermined -path,.said dogs extending into'said path, and said element being operable as it advances to actuate the dogs in succession.

v-.19..In..an apparatus for assembling partition strips including a strip formed with parallel slots at intervals therealong, means for advancingwand guiding said strip-in a. predetermined path, a valve assembly including a; plurality --of valves positioned one inadvance of another adjacent to said path each 'valve being movable toward and from said path, valve .chambers-in'which the valves are mounted, an air line in which the valve chambers are connected in seriesxsprings individual to the valves and arrangedto project the valves toward said path, said valves including aniintermediate valve normally heldi'open by itsspri-ng and valves on oppositeisides thereof normally held closed by their-said springs, said dogsbeing projected into the path of said-slotted strip and'woper'ated thereby, said intermediate valve having a nose projecting'intothe path of saidislotsforreleasing the dog and causing said .intermediatevalve to open.

20. The 'coiribinationof'means for moving a' flat workpiece of sheet material in a direction parallel ivithrthe .plane *of -said'sheet, means' for supporting and guiding the workpiece in a predetermined path during said movement, a fluid operated motor, a motor control valve controlling the operation of the motor, a fluid pressure line extending to the valve, a plurality of trip valves comprising'valve chambers connected in series in said line, means for normally closing and holding one trip valve closed, means for normally holding the other trip valve open, and valve actuating devices individual to said trip valves and extending into the said path of the workpiece, the actuating device for the normally closed valve beingoperable by the workpiece to open its valve, the actuating device for the normally open trip valve being operable by the workpiece to close the valve.

21. The combination of means for moving a fiat workpiece of sheet material in a direction parallel with the plane of said sheet, means for supporting and guiding the workpiece in a predetermined path during said movement, a fluid operated motor, a motor control valve controlling the operation of the motor, a fluid pressure line extending to the valve, a plurality of trip valves comprising valve chambers connected in series in said line, means for normally closing and holding one trip valve closed, means for normally holding the other trip valve open, and valve actuating devices individual to said trip valves and extending into the said path of the workpiece, the' actuating device for the normally closed valve being operable by the workpiece to open its valve, the actuating device for the normally open trip valve being operable by the workpiece to close .the valve, said valve actuating devices being mounted and positioned to be engaged by the workpiece at positions spaced apart in a direc- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,328,251 Balsiger Aug. 31, 1943 2,353,842 McLaughlin et a1. July 18, 1944 

